Machine for handling boxes and similar articles



H. D. CUCH June 6, 1944.

2,350,449 MACHI'NE FOR HANDLING BOXES AND SIM'ILAR'ARTICLES F1165 Sept-7. 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 3 3 3 wm n/ll g 3 u m. su 4 .m n. ls, /2/ 2l uw6 9 J 2 F 5 2 @avc/7 H. D. COUCH June 6, 1944.-

MACHINE FOR HANDLING BOXES AND SIMILAR ARTICLES Filed sept. r'7. 1942 2sheets-sheet 2 mvExaTroRl #aro/d. Coz/ck BY I 1 g ATTORNEY Patented June6, 1944 MACHINE FOR HANDLING BOXES AND SIMUJAR ARTICLES Harold D. Couch,Peshastin, Wash.` Application September 7, 1942, Serial No. 457,626

8 Claims.

My invention relates to a machine for handling boxes and similararticles. n

An objectof my invention is to provide an automatic machine forreceiving stacks of boxes or like articles directly from hand trucks atoor level Without necessitating the handling of each individual box orpackage and elevating and conveying said stacks of boxes for highdecking purposes to a location where they are stacked on other boxes.

Another object of my invention is to provide an elevating and stackingmachine of thisV nature having novel and efficient hydraulic actuatingmeans that is fully automatic in operation and that is controlled by theboxes or packages that are being handled by the machine.

Another object is to provide an elevating and stacking machine of thisnature having a swingingly mounted elevator section adapted when loweredto receive from a hand truck a load of boxes or like articles stackedone upon the other and adapted when elevated to discharge said stack ofboxes or articles by gravity onto a roller conveyor whereon the boxes orarticles will move by gravity to a location Where they may be removedand stacked on a high level and usually upon other stacked boxes in awarehouse or packing shed.

Another object is to provide an elevating and stacking machine of thistype having efficient means carried by the lower end portion of a*swingingly mounted elevator section for receiving a stack of boxes orlike articles directly from a hand truck and for insuring the easywithdrawal of the hand truck from the position vkI where it delivers theboxes before the autothe same time reduce the strain on the personshandling the articles.

Other objectsof the invention will be apparent from the followingdescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

For purposes of clarity in this description I have described myinvention as embodied in a box elevating and stacking machine of a typeparticularly adapted for high decking apples in boxes but it will beunderstood that the invention may be adapted for many other uses in thehandling of various articles.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machineconstructed in accordance with my invention showing by full lines theswinging elevator of the machine in a lowered position and by dot anddash lines the swinging elevator in a raised position.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device shown in Fig. 1 showing the'elevator section in raised position. l

Fig. 3 is a front elevation on a slightly larger scale than Fig. 1,looking in the direction indicated by the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 and showingthe swinging elevator section in lowered position.

Fig. 4 is a rear elevation on a slightly larger scale than Fig. 1,looking in the direction indicated by the line 4-4 oi Fig. 1, partsbeing shown in section and the showing of the swinging elevator sectionbeing omitted to avoid confusion.

. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detached View partly in section and partly inelevation showing load supporting parts at the lower end portion of theswinging elevator section.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on broken line 6 6 oi Fig.2 and illustrating telescopic box conveyor means.

Fig. 7 is a somewhat diagrammatic View with parts broken away showing aload controlled hydraulic lift means.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view of a valve showing electricalcontrol means for the same.

Like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the severalviews.

The frame of my box elevator is made upof a rectangular base portion I0,upright frame members II, diagonal brace members I2 at the sides of themachine, diagonal cross brace members I3 at the back of the machine andtransverse frame members I s extending crosswise between the uprightframe members II. Two of the transverse frame members III are at the topends of the upright frame members I I.

When this invention is embodied in an apple box elevator and conveyor Ipreferably make the base frame about four feet long and three feet wideand the upright frame about six feet high.

The base frame I is preferably provided at the four corners with casterwheels 9 which permit the machine to be readily pushed about by hand onthe floor on which it rests. I

Three sections of gravity roller platform, provided respectively withside bars I5, I6 and I 'I are connected with the upper end portion ofthe upright frame I I. Each of these gravity roller platform sectionspreferably comprises a rec- Yto extending above the top plane of therails so that when any object having an approximately at side, such asan apple box I9, is placed on one of these gravity roller platforms itwill rest from movement.

The roller platform shown at the left in Figs.

boxes I9. Preferably a transverse rocker shaft 32 is pivotally supportedby the forward edge portion of the platform 3| and two rocker members 1and 2 and designated therein as I5 is a re, y

ceiving and conveying platform. Said platformf I has one end portionthereof connected with 33 vare secured to the respective end portions ofthis transverse rocker 'shaft 32. The rocker members 33 are slightlyunbalanced as respects the pivot shaft 32 so that gravity will tend to Y,move them into the inclined position shown in the upper end Vportion ofthe upright framel Il by pivot means 20. When the machine is in use thisplatform I5 is supported at a slight incline relative to the horizontal,as shown by full lines in Fig. 1 and functions as a conveyor platform onwhich boxes will move by gravity toward the left as respects the showingin Fig. l. When the machine is not in use the platform I5 may be loweredso that it will hang vertically alongside of theupright frame II`,,asshown by dotlrand dash lines in Fig. 1. h

Preferably the conveyor section or platform is `telescopicso that it canbe extended oi-{shortened at will. To make this platform I5 telescopicIpreferably provide a narrower outer end portion comprising angle bars 2I, Figs-1, 2 and 6, that rest upon and-slide Aon the flanges Vof theangle bar side members I5 of said platform. A strip or bead 22 of metalis preferably welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the angle bars I5just above the base flanges thereof to cooperate in forming trackwaysfor the flanges of the angle bars 2I to 'slide in.-Suitable cross bars23 are rigidly secured between the angle bars 2| and plates 24 arerigidly secured between the angle bars I5. Preferably the conveyorsection I5 with extension 2I Vis about seven feet long when extended toits maximum length. Rollers 29 are provided on the angle bars 2I inpositions so that they .will be flush withthe topV plane of the rollersI8 on the side bars I5. Y

A support 25 is preferably provided on the outer end portion of theextension members 2| and extends downwardly therefrom and is adapted torest on previously stacked boxes I9 when this machine is in use, seeFig. l. berr25 is preferably provided near the outer end of the conveyorplatformr I5 and extends above the plane of said conveyor platform I5 toarrest movement of the boxes I 9 before said boxes move off of the endofthe conveyor I5.

Theftransfer section IB of gravity roller platform bridges the gapbetween the adjacent ends of Yconveyor section I5 and elevator sectionI1. This transfer section I5 issecured to the top end portions of theupright frame members II so that boxesjIS will move across the same fromelevator section rI1 to rconveyor section I5. lThe elevator section I1is pivoted on pivot means 30 and the said elevator section I1 is adaptedto be moved between the loading posi-: tion shown by full lines and thedischarging po-v siiton shown Iby dot and dash lines in Fig. 1. In

k the loading position the lower end portion of the elevator sectionpreferably rests against a cross Ybar I3 ofA the base frame IIJ and ispositioned close. to the oor. When in this loading position' theelevator section I1 preferably stands atan .I1 is. provided with arigidly secured platform portion 3I that projects substantially at right,angles outwardly therefrom. and isY sufficiently strong to support theweight of a pile or stack" of AV stop mem-l liquid reservoir 40 Fig. lwith their outer ends lower than their inner ends. When the rockermembers 33 are in this position a stack of boxes or like articles canreadily be moved over them when carried on a hand truck. Preferably stopmeans 34 is providedto limit the swinging movement of the shaft 32 androckermembers 33.y

The elevator section or roller platform I1 ,is adapted to be movedbetween the fullline position and the dot and dash line position shownin Fig. 1 by hydraulic means acting in. connection with gravity andcontrolled by the boxes I9.

The hydraulicv lift means comprises a cylinder 35, supported at itslower end by a pivotal support 36. A piston 31 within the hydrauliccylinder 35 is provided with a piston rod 38 that is connected by pivotmeans Y39 vwith the elevator section I1.

A liquid reservoir 40 is supported on the frame of the machine. Thelower end portion of the is connected by conduit means 4I with theintake of a liquid pump 42 that is driven by a motor 43 through beltconnecting means 44. The motor 43 and pump 42 operate continuously whenthe machine is in use. The high pressure fluid discharge side of thepump 42 is connected by conduit means 45 with the upper end portion ofthe liquid reservoir 4U. A branch conduit 46 connects the conduit 45with the bottom end portion Aof the hydraulic cylinder 35. Anotherbranch conduit 41 connects the conduit means 45 with the lower endportion of a pneumatic chamber 48. The chamber 48 serves as a lostmotion means to retard and slow up the starting operation of thehydraulic lift means sothat the piston 31 will not start to moveupwardly under the influence of liquid pressure until after the air inthe chamber 48 is highly compressed.

A valve 50 in the conduit 45 between the branch conduits 46 and 41 andthe liquid reservoir 40 controls the by-passing of liquid such as oilback to the reservoir 40. When the valve 50 is opened liquid willby-pass from the pump 42 to the reservoir 40 and the hydraulic lift willnot be operated. When the valve 50 is closed liquid under pressure fromthe pump 40 will raise the piston 31 in the hydraulic cylinder 35. Thevalve 50 is adapted to be closed by gravity and by spring means 6I. TheoW of liquid also helps to close such valve, as will be apparent fromFig. 8.

A liquid outlet port 5I is provided near the upper end of the hydrauliccylinder 35 and a conduit 52 connects the port 5I with the upper endportion of the liquid reservoir 40. When the piston 31, in its upwardtravel, uncovers the port 5I it will permit liquid in the hydrauliccylinder 35 to iiow into the reservoir 40 and the piston can not beraised any higher.

The valve 50 may be an ordinary globe valve with the threads removedfrom the stem so that said valve can be opened and closed by direct nforce applied thereto rather than by turning.

ible control member, such as a chain 53 with the stem 54 of the valve 55thence pass such flexible connector 53 over the pivot shaft 30 andconnect it to a control or trip ibar 55 that is positioned alongside ofthe swingingly mounted elevator section Il. The trip bar 55 is connectedto the elevator section il by parallel link members obliquely disposedand arranged so that when said trip bar 55 is depressed by a load itwill also be moved longitudinally of the section il. A spring i9 isconnected between the trip bar 55 and the elevator section Il and urgessaid trip bar toward the outer end of said elevator section I1. Thistends to open the valve i) and the trip bar vmay be stopped 'by the pullof the chain 53 when the valve 50 is fully open.

When the trip bar 55 is not engaged by any boxes then the valve 5i) willbe held open and a plurality of roll-ers 2S on the trip bar 55 willextend outwardly beyond thel plane of the rollers i8 on the elevatorframe il. Ii a stack of boxes or like articles is leaned against theelevator frame il' some of these boxes or articles will engage with thetrip bar 55 and depress the same.

This will move the said trip bar endwise to the left as respects theshowing in Fig. '7 thus slackening the flexible connector 53 andallowing gravity and the spring 5l to close the valve 5B. This willstart the operation of the hydraulic lift.

An electrical means for holding the valve 50 open and releasing the sameto permit it to close is shown in Fig. 8. In this figure I show thevalve stem 54 connected to the movable core 51 of a solenoid 58 and usethe iiexi-ble connector 53 to close and hold closed a normally openswitch 5S that controls the now of current to the solenoid 58.Preferably a spring 5i) yieldingly urges the switch 5S into openposition. The spring i9r that is connected with the trip bar 55 isstrong enough to overcome the pull oi the spring Eil when no boxes arein engagement with the trip bar 55.

In the absence of pressure against the trip bar `55 the switch 59 willbe held closed, the solenoid 58 will be energized and the valve 55 willbe held open. When pressure depresses the trip bar 55 the spring 45 willopen the switch 59 and deenergize the solenoid 58 and gravity and thespring 5| will close the valve 55 and start operation of the hydrauliclift.

Operation In the operation of this device for elevating and stackingarticles such as boxed apples, stacks of boxes i9, usually with five orsix 1boxes inreach v stack, are wheeled on hand trucks to the device.

While the elevator section l1 is in the lowered position shown by fulllines in Fig. l, a truck loaded with boxes I9 is wheeled into closeproximity to said elevator section I? sov that the boxes are above theplatform 3l and rocker members 33. The pick-up arms of the truck arespaced apart a greater distance than the rocker members Y 33 and will beclear of and outside of said rocker members 33. The truck is then tiltedtoward the I elevator section l1 to transfer the stack of boxes operatorto withdraw his truck before said lift begins to swing the elevatorsection Il upwardly.

After enough hydraulic .pressure has built up in cylinder to begin tolift piston 3l the upward movement of said piston 3l and the elevatorsection il with the stack of boxes thereon will continue until thepiston 3l begins to uncover the port 5| whereupon the liquid will beginto flow through the conduit 52 into the liquid reservoir and theelevator section il will be held in a substantially fixed position aslong as any boxes remain in contact with the trip bar 55 to hold thevalve 50 closed.

The port 5I is positioned so that the elevator section Il with the boxesi9 thereon will have been moved upwardly a short distance past ahorizontal plane and will be substantially in the inclined positionshown by dot and dash lines in Fig. l, before the piston 3'.' begins touncover said port 5! and brings said elevator section il to a stop. Assoon as the elevator section il has reached substantially the inclinedposition shown by dot and dash lines in Fig. l, gravity will begin tomoverthe boxes thereon towardthe transfer section i5 and conveyorsection I5. When the last box has moved off of the trip bar 55 thespring 49 will elevate said trip bar 55 and in so doing will open thevalve 58, whereupon gravity will move the elevator section I1 downwardlyas the liquid from the hydraulic cylinder iiows through conduits and 5and past the open valve 5i! into the liquid reservoir Iii).

The operation of this device will be substantially the same irrespectiveof whether the valve 55 is operated by the mechanical means shown inFig. 7, or the electrical means shown in Fig. 3.

When this device is used for elevating and stacking boxes of fruit thelower tiers of boxes are preferably first stacked without the use ofthis elevator and stacker to a height of about live feet. This elevatorand stacker is then positioned close to the stacked boxes with thetelescopic elevator section I5 preferably fully extended and projectingback over the tiers of previously stacked boxes. As fast as boxes areelevated and delivered onto the conveyor section l5 they are removed andstacked by an operator who stands on the previously stacked boxes. Theconveyor section i5 is telescopically shortened as the high decking orstacking of the upper layers proceeds and the machine is moved atintervals as required.

The rnotor 43 and pump 52 operate continuously while the elevator andstacker is being used and the hydraulic liquid circulates continuously.The operation of the machine is smooth and even and not bumpy. Thepneumatic chamber 55 helps to absorb shocks and contributes to thesmoothness of operation.

Preferably the machine is timed so that it will require about thirtyseconds after the valve is closed for one cycle of operation, i. e., forthe elevator' section il to be fully raised. and discharge its load andreturn to the receiving position. The machine saves much heavy liftingon the part of the men who are handling the boxes and greatly speeds upthe high decking operation.

The foregoing description and accompanying drawings clearly disclose onepreferred embodiment of my invention but it will be understood that thisdisclosure .is merely illustrative and that such changes in the devicemay be made as are fairly within the scope and spirit of the appendedclaims.

stack of articles may be leaned against the same and a position inclinedapproximately five degrees from the horizontal whereby articles willdischarge by gravity over the pivoted end portion of said elevatorsection; power actuated lift means connected with said elevator section;and control means folsaid lift means operatively Aassociated with saidelevator section actuated vby load pressure against said'elevatorsection and released by the discharge of a load from said velevatorsection.

2. In elevator means, a frame; an elevator section mounted for swingingmovement on said frame between a loading positionin which it is slightlyinclined relative to the vertical whereby a load of stacked articles maybe leaned against the same vand a discharging position in which it isslightly inclined relative to the horizontalwhereby articles willydischarge by gravity therefrom; article supporting rollers on saidelevator section; article supporting shelf means on the lower endportion of said elevator section; hydraulic lift means connected withsaid elevator section; a valve controlling the operation of saidhydraulic lift means; and load operated trip bar means carried by saidelevator section operated by the load and controlling said valve.

3. In elevator means adapted'to receive a stack of boxes from a handtruck, a swingingly mounted elevator section movable between a loadingposition in which it is slightly inclined relative to the vertical and agravity discharging position in which it is slightly inclined relativeto the horizontal; power actuated lift means connected with saidelevator section adapted to swingingly move said elevator section;control means for Vsaid power actuated lift means operable by thetransfer of a stack of boxes from a hand truck to a leaning positionagainst said elevator section; and time delay means embodied in saidpower actuated lift means providing for a delay in starting theelevating movement of said platform after a stack of boxes has beenleaned against the same to allow time for the withdrawal of the handtruck.

4. In elevator means, a swingingly mounted elevator section; poweractuated hydraulic lift means connected with said elevator sectionadapted to swingingly move said elevator section; control means for saidpower actuated lift means operable by the leaning of a load against saidelevator section; and a pneumatic chamber provided in said hydrauliclift means and arranged so that pressure must build up in said pneumaticchamber before said hydraulic lift means begins to operate therebyproviding a vtime delay between the operation ofthe control means andthe start of movement of said elevator section.

5. In elevator and gravity conveyor means, a frame; a gravity rollertype elevator section pivoted for swinging movement'from the upperportion of said frame and movable into a load discharging postion vinwhich it is slightly inclined relative to the horizontal; a gravityroller con- 5 twenty degrees relative to the vertical whereby a veyorsection supported by said frame spaced relation from and substantial endto end alignment with said elevator section when said elevator sectionis in load discharging position; and a gravity roller type transfersection supported vvby said frame and bridging the space between saidelevator section and said conveyor section.

6. In elevator means, an elevator section pivoted at its upper endportion for swinging movement; `a substantially perpendicular loadsupporting shelf projecting outwardly from the bottom end portion ofsaid elevator section; and

. load receiving rocker members positioned along said elevator section;power operated lift means connected with said elevator sectioncontrolling .movement of said elevator section between a loadingposition inclined relative to the vertical enough to receive and supporta leaning stack of boxes and a discharging position properly inclinedrelative to the horizontal to discharge boxes by gravity therefrom overthe pivoted end portion thereof; control devices for said lift means,said control devices including a movable member carried by said elevatorsection adapted to be moved by pressure of boxes to render said liftmeans operative and movable upon release by said boxes to render saidlift means inoperative; means adapted to arrest downward movement ofsaid elevator section before said elevator section reaches a verticalposition in its downward movement; and means adapted to arrest upwardmovement of said elevator section after said elevator section passes ahorizontal position in its upward movement.

8. In elevator means for elevating and discharging a stack of boxes, aframe; a swingingly mounted elevator section having its upper endportion pivotally connected with said frame; load supporting rollers onsaid elevator section; hydraulic lift means connected with said elevatorsection controlling movement of said elevator section between a loadingposition inclined relative to the vertical enough to receive and supporta leaning stack of boxes and a discharging position slightly inclinedrelative to the horizontal to discharge boxes by gravity therefrom overthe pivoted end portion thereof; a valve controlling said hydraulic liftmeans; valve control means carried by said elevator section andoperatively -connected with said valve, said valve control means beingmoved to actuate said hydraulic lift means by pressure of boxes againstthe same and being moved toV render said hydraulic lift meansinoperative upon the discharge of said boxes; means adapted to arrestthe downward movement of said elevator section before said elevatorsection reaches a vertical position; and means adapted to arrest theupward movement of said elevator section after said elevator sectionpasses a horizontal position.

HAROLD D. COUCH.

